Saturday, October 30, 2010

Devoted.Devotion by Erin Browne

Now I start this by saying that I didn't grow up with Shakespeare. I grew up thinking that Shakespeare was something that rich, educated people did in order to distance themselves from the poor, not because they found it moving or universal but merely as something haughty to waste money and time on and pretend they understood.

While this prejudice of mine was abandoned at an early age in regards to opera or ballet - it stuck around for Shakespeare well into college. But I have learned to love Shakespeare because of free park performances from Gorilla Rep to the Public's Shakespeare in Central Park. Extensive reading has showed me how universal the emotional worlds created in Shakespeare's work truly is - and when read next to Christopher Marlowe (who I still prefer) you can see the world that they were writing in and how revolutionary their stagecraft is.

Midsummer, while being many of my friend's favorites still was my least favorite Shakespeare - because it seemed silly, without the weight of the history plays or conflicting emotions of my favorite Measure for Measure.

Being forced to address it for Flux Theatre Ensemble's Imagination Compact which was leading up to their Midsummer performances - was an amazing experience. I can't say I love Midsummer but I do love elements of it. The fantastical characters and the abilities to use fairies and gods and magical elements so jives with what I love about theater and writing - the chance to play with the historic and amazing story of the Votaress and her weird semi-appearance in this play was great! Not to mention the poetic nature of Shakespeare's work giving free reign to play with language.

Also having a world in which magical things happen - either literal or figurative - allows for a world in which the devotion and love of two women for each other (even if one is a god and one is a queen) allows them to create a child together out of their love. This is a romantic idea I'd love to think and write more about because it makes me happy. So - a close study of Midsummer did make me very happy, as did the writing of this play - even if it was a struggle to find my entry into it at first. And it does actually quote from the play at a few points - so thanks Will for your words.

This play was performed in the Spring of 2008 with a few chairs and some read stage directions - and had a better than expected effect on the audience.

I don't know if it stands alone without discussion or performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream but I'd love to find out.

If you have any input or ideas send them my way - erinkellyb@hotmail.com

DEVOTED/DEVOTION

The story of the Votaress and her Changeling Boy

By Erin Browne

Characters:

Votaress/Indian Queen

Titania

Oberon

Changeling Boy

Peasblossom

Mustardseed

Servant to the Indian Queen

Non-speaking-

Various servants of the Indian Queen

Various fairies and magicals

Fairy banquet guests

Oberon’s flirt

The Indian King and his entourage

Opening. The Votaress sits staring out a window in the castle, maids bring her trays of food. She is bored with everything offered but tries to look pleased for her servant’s sake.

Titania watches her from the sill of another window, unnoticed.

The King enters and all fall to the ground. The servants kowtow. The Votaress sits on the floor with her face down.

The king brushes past her with his entourage and doesn’t acknowledge her.

After he is gone, she rises.

Her servants rise after her, readjusting and rebeautifying her royal garb.

They seat her again in her throne. Titania leaves the sill of her window.

The Votaress returns to staring out the window. She continues to stare while the following scene happens in a clearing in the forest.

Titania and Oberon sit at a banquet in the forest. The fairies and guests chatter. Oberon sits between Titania and a buxom goddess.

Oberon flirts with the goddess and puts his hand on her knee as they laugh together.

Titania looks livid. She leaves the table. Flowers wither as Titania passes them on her way into the forest. Some of her smaller fairies quiver after her, buzzing and agitated.

The Votaress in her palace, being dressed by attendants. Titania watches through a window. The Votaress glances out another window.

VOTARESS

Tyrant winter, it hails again. Hold your tongue against the gods you silly girls, for they will reek havoc on what little of life we have. It has been four weeks since I’ve bathed by night in the sea and never has India’s land seen such storms. The sea calls to me from these palace windows, for I feel it brings my destiny.

SERVANT

Queen, you are pregnant, you shouldn’t touch the sea. Bathing alone! It is dangerous, unladylike, and the salt makes children wicked.

VOTARESS

Don’t think you can chide away one of my only joys, illogical as it may be.

The Votaress is dressed.

VOTARESS

Now for another day of sitting in a throne. If it wasn’t for you, all of you, I wouldn’t wake up in the morning.

The Votaress on a cloud in the sky.

VOTARESS

The night I saw her for the 1st time, bathing in the ocean, she lit the night water aglow, her body visible through the dark waves. She was followed by a million sparkling buzzing things like stars come to life. They combed her hair and held ready a field’s worth of flower petals to dry her when she emerged. I knew she wasn’t human and I knew I could never be an equal, a lover, a partner, a mate, but I knew I had to devote my life to her.

Titania to the toddler Changeling Boy. She holds a painting before him, a small painting in the style of the small Mycenaean statue of the Votaress.

TITANIA

This was your mother. She was devoted absolutely to me. A votaress. A priestess to me. This is your mother.

CHANGELING BOY

This is my mother.

TITANIA

And I was all of those things to her and more.

CHANGELING BOY

And you are my mother.

TITANIA

And in the spiced Indian air, by night, full often hath she gossiped by my side and sat with me on Neptune’s yellow sand.

CHANGELING BOY

This was my mother.

TITANIA

She, with pretty and with swimming gait (following her womb then rich with you) would sail upon the land to fetch me trifles, and return again, rich with merchandise.

Votaress on a cloud in the sky.

VOTARESS

I knew I had to leave my husband, his child in my womb, to worship her forever.

Titania to Changeling Boy who is now slightly older.

TITANIA

But she, being mortal, of you did die and for her sake do I keep you, for her sake I will not part with you.

Peasblossom on the beach.

PEASBLOSSOM

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.

Titania watches the Votaress bathe in the sea. Titania watches her return to the shore and dress in her royal garments. Titania then sneaks out of her hiding place, undresses and bathes so that the Votaress can see her. There is a slight burst of music on the wind.

Titania to the clouds where the Votaress is. The Votaress can see Titania but Titania can not see the Votaress.

TITANIA

I hear you a million years away from me.

Mortality is a reason for living. Live now or forever hold your peace.

Fairly fairy queen. You see me. A plant-grower,

A defender of the small, knowing when

Flowers should bloom and when they should die.

But my powers couldn’t keep you with me. We

Rode the backs of elephants and flew on the wings of bees.

Since you are gone, the poetry is there,

All the familiar things magnified, tiny made mighty, mighty made magical.

All the poetry is there but the reason for it is gone.

Titania bathes in the sea. The Votaress stares enraptured. Titania emerges from the water, dripping and alone. The Changeling Boy watches.

CHANGELING BOY

What my mother -Titania remembers, when she remembers.

VOTARESS

Pardon me. Um, pardon me.

TITANIA

Yes?

VOTARESS

Hello.

TITANIA

What?

VOTARESS

Hello.

TITANIA

I can’t hear you.

VOTARESS

I am unworthy of speaking to you. It’s making it hard for me to raise my voice.

TITANIA

You may speak to me, there is no question of worthiness.

VOTARESS

You are a beautiful goddess. What are you doing bathing in my waters?

TITANIA

I am not a god.

VOTARESS

But you set the water on fire. I saw it.

TITANIA

Perhaps your eyes were on fire, I see fire in your eyes.

VOTARESS

I am unworthy of your compliments.

The Votaress throws herself on the sand, unable to hold Titania’s eye contact.

TITANIA

Get up off the sand.

VOTARESS

I would die for you.

TITANIA

You would not. Everyone always says that but it’s not true.

VOTARESS

I would.

TITANIA

You don’t even know me. I’m not…

VOTARESS

I know I can’t live anywhere when I’m not by you.

TITANIA

When is the first time you saw me?

VOTARESS

Today, just now. I wouldn’t have been able to resist you if I’d seen you before - resist worshipping you.

TITANIA

I have been watching you for weeks, months, watching you bathe at night, your hair on the water behind you like a memory. I have been too afraid to approach you, so tonight I had Neptune light my way, so I was sure you would see me. I am the god, yet I bathed naked, praying nervously the whole time you might approach.

CHANGELING BOY

What my mom remembers, when she dreams in her death.

VOTARESS

I saw you there.

TITANIA

Did you?

VOTARESS

I saw you light the water on fire.

TITANIA

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

VOTARESS

Your body, it glowed, it glowed in the water, so I could see.

TITANIA

It’s an animal in the water, too small to see that glows when touched. It lights up the water.

VOTARESS

Not like that.

TITANIA

Yes, like that.

VOTARESS

I have lived here my whole life, on this sea, and I have never seen the water glow like that. Usually they are little sparkles like stars, but you, it was all, I could see everything, I mean, your feet, I could even see your feet.

TITANIA

You could see everything?

VOTARESS

I, um, was amazed by the water. The glowing water.

TITANIA

I would have worn something to swim in if I knew you were spying.

VOTARESS

I’m sorry, I was just stunned. Um, confused.

TITANIA

Do you watch everyone bathe?

VOTARESS

I, ah, no one is ever on this beach but me. At this time of day…. Night.

TITANIA

I know.

VOTARESS

How do you know?

TITANIA

I’ve seen you here before.

VOTARESS

Have you?

TITANIA

Once or twice.

VOTARESS

Then you were spying?

TITANIA

Yes.

VOTARESS

Spying on me?

TITANIA

Yes.

VOTARESS

Who are you?

TITANIA

Titania.

VOTARESS

Oh.

TITANIA

Hello.

VOTARESS

Hello.

They shake hands and the Votaress is stunned by Titania’s touch.

TITANIA

You are?

VOTARESS

Uh…

TITANIA

Yes?

VOTARESS

I forgot my name for a minute.

TITANIA

You are the queen from that castle, an Indian Queen.

CHANGELING

I imagine it somewhere in the middle, or both.

Titania and the Votaress holding hands, walking in the forest.

TITANIA

You’re pregnant?

VOTARESS

You have a husband.

TITANIA

So do you.

The Votaress stops and hugs Titania.

Titania spins spider webs with spiders. The Votaress enters in a rush of excited panic.

VOTARESS

I left a note. I’ve left him.

TITANIA

Don’t.

VOTARESS

I must, I had to. I couldn’t live my life without being totally devoted to you.

TITANIA

We both have our husbands, our duties. You are a queen, the soon-to-be mother of a prince. I am queen of the fairies and it is up to me to balance Oberon.

VOTARESS

But they both, your husband and mine, are untrue to us-

TITANIA

And we are untrue to them. But we have our duties.

VOTARESS

I love you.

TITANIA

You are a mortal.

VOTARESS

We are more than our titles and our lifespan. Isn’t there something more to us? You are something else with me.

TITANIA

Oberon would kill you. Could kill you with winter, famine, torture your people with poison water or boiling rain.

VOTARESS

I know.

TITANIA

And your husband would come after his prince and kill you for infidelity.

VOTARESS

My son can’t grow up with him.

TITANIA

He must.

VOTARESS

No, he can’t live a life untouched by your magic. I would rather not have him than chain him to the duties of a mortal king.

TITANIA

If you stay with your husband and be my priestess, a title full of ritual and formality, a title neither of our husbands can argue, all us gods being allowed our devoteds. As my votaress and the queen, you can have your boy in the castle, and quicker than human habits, we will change your boy/our boy for an old fairy disguised as yours. We will have your son here as our own. While a misbehaving changeling wrecks a little boy’s havoc on the rights of royalty in the castle.

VOTARESS

Can we? Can we have him here together, all on our own, our stolen boy?

TITANIA

Our little changeling and their little changeling. A royal for a royal. But you must stay at your castle and be a queen and I must stay in the forest and be a queen. Come to worship me and make me offerings every day and I will worship you as I have since the moment I saw you.

VOTARESS

My note.

TITANIA

I will dispatch fairies to tear it up before any nosey servant can lay an eye.

The Votaress meets Titania in a forest. They kiss. The Votaress is visibly but not awkwardly pregnant.

TITANIA

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.

VOTARESS

Only a day.

TITANIA

My years are both shorter and longer than yours.

VOTARESS

You are a god through and through, aren’t you?

TITANIA

Not around you.

VOTARESS

I make you less than a god? Less than who you are?

TITANIA

When I touch your hand.

Titania holds the Votaress’s hand.

TITANIA

Your shoulder.

Titania places a hand on the Votaress’s shoulder. The Votaress responds by wrapping her arm around Titania’s back.

TITANIA

I want to be your servant, wash your feet in the castle everyday in Jasmine water, dress you and undress you. I wish I were human.

Titania and the Votaress dance together in a clearing in the forest, they are lit by fairies and fireflies.

Votaress to fairies and forest creatures.

VOTARESS

Tender look me little

Things. For she has given

You a voice. My boy

Will be stolen from my

Husband’s crib and you

Must make him more

Than what he is, more

Than mortality. Dance

Him tender, make him

See the little sparks of

Laughter in the wind.

He will always be a trouble

To Titania and Oberon.

They will both love

Him vicious because

You will make him

Beautiful. Glow his eyes

And light his steps.

Help him to see what

Humans do not because

You have shown me

And I would have

Never said I was alive

Without it. I feel I

Must leave, those I

Ever loved – my Titania,

My bub baby boy, but

Keep them little fairies.

And lift my soul on your

Tiny winglets, with love deliver me to the sky.

The Votaress, very pregnant, and Titania lay next to each other on the beach where they met. The fairies dance and perform magic for them. From the folds of her royal garments the Votaress produces a gold bracelet that she slides onto Titania’s arm. Titania produces a small painting modeled after the small Mycenaean statue “The Votaress.” The Votaress throws her arms around Titania. The fairies swoon as the Votaress and Titania listen to the waves, staring into each other’s eyes.

Three fairies carry a baby to Titania who sits running her hands over the grass. Titania cradles the baby and looks at him.

PEASBLOSSOM

You tell her.

MUSTARDSEED

You tell her.

Pause.

PEASBLOSSOM

She has died.

MUSTARDSEED

Your Votaress.

TITANIA

I know. I knew.

MUSTARDSEED

Just now, with the birth.

TITANIA

He’s so beautiful, isn’t he.

PEASBLOSSOM

The old fairy you have chosen has taken his place.

TITANIA

This baby is hers, he looks like her.

MUSTARDSEED

Yes, he does.

TITANIA

Thank you for bringing him to me.

MUSTARDSEED

You’re welcome queen.

PEASBLOSSOM

Are you sad queen?

MUSTARDSEED

Don’t ask her that.

PEASBLOSSOM

She has never thanked us before.

MUSTARDSEED

Of course she’s sad.

Changeling Boy to the audience.

CHANGELING BOY

My mothers controlled the moon

They danced on waves betting the tides

The two of them

Wishing wanting

Whispering for me

No boy born of man

I will rule this world

Fairies frolic my name

In the wind

Flowers kiss my step

I would have been a

King but instead

I am a god

While mortal, their love

Created powers you

Could never imagine

Tender is the nature of things

Wild the nature of me

For I will rule this world

Oberon and the adolescent Changeling Boy in Oberon’s forest palace.

OBERON

Boy, you will stay with me for a while.

CHAGELING BOY

I will not.

OBERON

I have won you fair and square and you must do what I say.

CHANGELING BOY

I won’t.

OBERON

You are my messenger, now deliver this letter.

CHANGELING

No!

Oberon grabs the Changeling Boy. The Changeling Boy makes the candle flames rage with his mind. Oberon lets him go and they return to normal.

OBERON

But you are not a god.

CHANGELING BOY

I want to go back to my mother.

OBERON

How did you do that?

CHANGELING BOY

I want to see my mother.

OBERON

Your mother is dead.

The Changeling Boy brings up a wind that rattles the leaves and snuffs out the candles.

CHANGELING BOY

Titania.

OBERON

She is not your mother. Your mother was the Indian Queen.

CHANGELING BOY

They made me together. They had magic you will never understand.

OBERON

Lock him in his room.

Titania paces as her fairies pace after her and around her.

TITANIA

It is good for him, won’t it be? To spend some time with someone other than me?

PEASBLOSSOM

We know you miss him queen.

MUSTARDSEED

Look, who comes?

TITANIA

My boy, my son.

The Changeling Boy runs to Titania.

CHANGELING BOY

Mom!

TITANIA

My beautiful boy.

CHANGELING BOY

He had me locked in a room because I wouldn’t deliver his letters. I wouldn’t be his messenger.

TITANIA

How’re you here?

CHANGELING BOY

Some fairies came and one changed to look like me. They said you were so sad that without me the trees stopped growing towards the sun and began to tangle in the houses as they grew along the earth. The fairy became me, and so I’m here.

TITANIA

There will be copies of you all over the world.

CHANGELING BOY

But none as happy as me because I am here with you.

Titania and the Changeling Boy dance. The Votaress watches from her cloud.

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Free Short Plays

I believe that new writing (especially short works and monologues) should be free to students, actors, and directors working in class, for festivals, for auditions, and all of the other work that you do for love and not money. So, here they are. I just ask that if you use it, you let me know - erinkellyb@hotmail.com